Project information

"A Journey of a Lifetime"

Commissioned for Opera Brava's sensational and groundbreaking work in primary schools.This Opera will update the original story of Pilgrims Progress with relevance for children in modern society,encouraging moral discussion,awareness of personal safety,freedom of choice and making right decisions.

Solution

Workshops are carefully planned, maximising the time permitted & the personnel available so that each child is active & occupied constantly. The workshops are sub-divided to allow for: teaching music, instrumental examples, prop making, drama & rehearsing & ultimately bringing all the facets together for a production. New found interests & skills, combined with a sense of pride & achievement contribute to reducing the likelihood of children in deprived areas falling into anti-social behaviours.

Aim 1

To launch a new Opera for schools involving professionals which will then be available nationwide.

Activities

» To introduce opera to school children in a particapative and exciting way enabling them to see and hear professionals and work with them. » Construct, rehearse & develop a new opera that is tailored to each school & to use modern technology in rehearsals, creating new social opportunities. » Perform \"Journey of a Lifetime\" in either theatres, schools or communities, developing & furthering the knowledge, interest & appreciation of Opera.

Success will be a large audience at the worldwide launch in a theatre and numerous schools enquiring about the project for 2015. Positive press & Arts Council coverage.

Impact

Beneficiaries are school children between the ages of 7 and 13. Many schools Opera Brava work with have high numbers of children from deprived ares, who lack the opportunity to experience and be involved in the performing arts. This project is designed to be inclusive children of all cultures, backgrounds and abilities are integrated into production and performance teams. The overall experience is transformational in the children's lives & has a lasting effect in their educational development.

Risk

There are always risks to any project but the main one is a lack of funding. Opera Brava have been working with schools since 1988, in over 250 schools working with at least 25,000 children & many more seeing the operas with parents & families. We have a wonderful composer & several singers & designers keen to start on this project & I have numerous artists who would like to be involved if the opportunity arises.Two schools re available for the first performance thus covering every eventuality.

Reporting

We have been working with The John Lewis Foundation for over 20 years and have given a full report both financial and teacher letters every year. Also we invite sponsors and donors to attend rehearsals and performances whenever possible. Numerous supporters have attended our events over the years.

Current Funding / Pledges

Location

The launch of this project will be at The Leatherhead Theatre, Leatherhead, Surrey with one of two local schools in the area. Parts of Leatherhead are very deprived and Opera Brava are committed to working in schools that requre extra music and drama that will help have a lasting effect on school and home lives. we have been discussing this project with The Roundhouse in Camden for a major launch but this is in its early stages.

Beneficiaries

The immediate beneficiaries of the opera will be the children taking part in the world premiere. However the rest of the school will see a dress rehearsal & their will be two public performances. In the long term thousands of children will benefit from this production over a ten year period & many tens of thousands will see it. There is a long term vision to enable the opera to go Nationwide & be included in the National Curriculum rather like our current piece The Lion the Witch & the Wardrobe.

Why Us?

Now in it's 27th year Opera Brava have consistently been working with hundresds of schools and thousands of children. We have worked on projects that required only a few children to large scale works at The Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank with over 200 children, full Orchestra 10 singers and an actor. We have been developing our works over the years and tailoring to the needs of children and challenging them both musically & dramatically. Heads all over the country have been singing our praises.